MURDER IN AN IRISH GARDEN by Carlene O'Connor

In Book Eleven of the Irish Village Mysteries, Siobhan and The O'Sullivan Six return in MURDER IN AN IRISH GARDEN, where a fierce garden competition takes a deadly turn.

Garda Siobhan has been studying hard for her Detective Sergeant exam, and her husband, Macdara, is driving her mad. Fortunately, Kilbane’s Top Garden Contest provides a much-needed distraction, along with her brother Eoin’s new restaurant opening. However, things take a dark turn when Cassidy Ryan, a professional landscape designer, enters the contest, seemingly aiming to win at all costs to qualify for a larger competition. Her efforts stir resentment among the other local gardeners. When Cassidy's garden is revealed with a magnificent statue, Siobhan is shocked to discover a corpse hidden beneath all the gold paint. Now, it’s up to Siobhan to find the killer and uncover who is weeding out the competition. Will the garden show go on?

This long-running series shows no signs of slowing down. Siobhan, her siblings, her new husband, and her coworkers keep the action moving and the intriguing mysteries coming. MURDER IN AN IRISH GARDEN presents a unique crime where the victim is on display, and the other gardeners are under suspicion. Siobhan is a determined and intelligent Garda who follows the clues, leaving no stone unturned in her investigation. The plot is engaging, and the characters—along with the charm of Ireland—shine through the pages. Molly, the intrepid reporter, adds depth to the mystery, which includes an Irish legend, destroyed gardens, a scattering of gold objects, a mysterious crate delivery, and a complex plan of deception. MURDER IN AN IRISH GARDEN continues this exceptional series with a distinctive crime, an entertaining cast, and a conclusion that promises a new chapter in Siobhan’s life.

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SUMMARY

Everything’s coming up roses for garda Siobhán and the rest of O’Sullivan family in quaint Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland—until a murder investigation blooms out of a deadly gardening competition.

While Siobhán studies for her Detective Sargeant exams, her brother, Eoin, prepares for the grand opening of his new restaurant, The O’Sullivan Six, and concocts a plan to enter Kilbane’s Top Garden Contest to boost business. But trouble brews when Eoin hires a mercurial landscape designer known for her killer designs. His new partner’s unflattering reputation and questionable practices nearly eclipse her talents—and plunge the prestigious competition into chaos.

A lush and intricate winning garden emerges from the controversy, with a spectacular golden statue in the center of the display. But in a devastating twist, the work of art leads to the shocking discovery of a bold and brutal work of murder.

Everyone in town has an opinion about who committed the crime and planted the evidence, from easily bribed sponsors to green-with-envy gardeners. And with another golden statue found in Eoin’s garden display, rumors about his involvement intensify. As local gossip buzzes and a list of suspects grows, it’s up to quick-witted Siobhán and her husband, Macdara, to suss out the guilty culprit’s identity . . . before the competition buries another victim.

EXCERPT

BOOK SERIES

Irish Village Mystery